Articles

BRYAN’S FISHING CAMP 2002
by Ray Kerchal

Bryan’s Fishing Camp is sponsored by The Bryan Kerchal Memorial Fund. It teaches fishing techniques and an appreciation for the protection and preservation of our water and fishery resources. This is the fifth consecutive year for the camp, which was held at the Girl Scout Camp on Candlewood Lake, August 12th - 16th. Thanks to our 46 volunteer boat captains, 52 children, ages 7 through 13 participated in the largest camp to date. The volunteer boat captains were mostly from the Connecticut BASS Federation but volunteers from Vermont, Massachusetts and New York also participated.

In Group C (bass fishing only), Justin LaRoche of Danbury, CT took 1st place in the tournament held on the last day of the camp. Justin’s five fish limit weighed in at 10.42 pounds. His big bass, weighing 3.38 pounds, was the largest in Group C, earning him another 1st place trophy. Justin’s adult boat captain was Bryan McCleary of Watertown, Connecticut. All of his tournament winning fish were caught using Snoozer watermelon tube lures. A third trophy was presented to Justin for landing the biggest bass during the week, a 4.8 pound fish, which he caught on a Rapala crank bait. Cameron Blossom of St. Albans, VT took 2nd in the tournament with a total of 10.08 pounds and Tony Sabas of Stratford, CT took 3rd with 8.51 pounds.

In Group B (any species of fish allowed), Ryan Laskowski and Casey Popke of Danbury finished 1st and 2nd for most fish caught (26 & 21) and Nikki Neun from Wappanger Falls, NY caught the lunker, which weighed. 4.32 pounds. In Group A (any species of fish allowed), Andy Bonadio of Danbury won the 1st place trophy for most fish caught (23) and Jason Boileau of Middlebury, CT placed 1st in the big fish category with a 3.93 pound bass.

The generosity of sponsors is always important for the success of Bryan’s Fishing Camp. This year REYNOLDS MARINE donated a new MS30 Equalizer electronic weigh-in scale. At the conclusion of the camp, all new participants received a tackle box from PLANO, a spinning rod & reel and a bag containing hooks, soft and hard plastic lures, a knot book and other miscellaneous items. The advanced anglers, who brought their own fishing gear to the camp, received an assortment of hard plastic and wood lures including spinner baits, buzz baits, crank baits and top water baits and spinning rods and reels. Additional companies donating products included LUNKER CITY, LUCKY CRAFT, LUHR-JENSEN, PRADCO, STALKER BAITS, DARTER BAITS, GARY YAMAMOTO CUSTOM BAITS, GENE LAREW TACKLE, FRABILL, ALLSTAR, PURE FISHING, TSUNAMI BAIT CO, SUSQUEHANNA BAITS and N.E.H. TROPHIES. STOP & SHOP donated food and drinks for the Friday weigh-in and CANDLEWOOD BAIT AND TACKLE of Danbury donated all of the live bait used.